The Verdin View
April 7th, 2010Dear Friends:
It appears that we have outlasted a tough, record-breaking winter. Spring has moved slowly, but has finally arrived in the Upstate. In Columbia, we’re just past the halfway mark in the 2010 legislative session, so now is a good time to assess the accomplishments thus far and focus on the work still remaining.
First of all, a local matter of great importance has been addressed with H.4048. This bill allows juries to be chosen from a countywide pool. Our courts and law enforcement have needed this tool for quite a while.
Just as any society must maintain the integrity and efficiency of its court system, so it is with the election process. H.3418, the “Voter ID” bill, would require all who seek a ballot to provide photographic evidence of their identity. All provisions of the bill would be phased in by January 1, 2012, some being subject to preclearance by the US Justice Department.
One of the bills that passed the Senate early in the year has set the tone for other legislation and reflects a mood in many other state legislatures. S.424 reinforces our commitment to the 9th and 10th Amendments to the US Constitution and calls on the Federal government to regard our rights articulated under those amendments.
Much time and attention was devoted to the bill that creates a new state agency, the Department of Employment and Workforce, H.3442. This new agency will replace the troubled Employment Security Commission. The overarching theme of this legislation is “increased accountability” – for the agency, as well as those receiving benefits.
H.3245 creates a 24-hour waiting period, allowing a woman to receive written information and an ultrasound, prior to obtaining an abortion. This would bring to South Carolina law a reasonable and widely-recognized standard which already exists in twenty-one other states.
A bill with which I have had much interaction is S.452, the Water Withdrawal Permitting bill. This bill would create a permitting process for large withdrawals of our water, needless to say, an extremely precious resource. Including the predecessor to this bill, the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee has debated this bill since my first year as chairman, the 2007 legislative session.
An attempt to regulate spending levels by Constitutional amendment is also in progress. This requires two pieces of legislation — S.2, which has passed the Senate, is the bill containing the provisions of the change in law; S.1, which has not yet passed the Senate, is the resolution that would allow the question to be placed on the ballot this November.
Finally, the bill that most recently grabbed the attention of the state is H.3584, the cigarette tax bill. If passed into law, the current 7-cent excise tax on a pack of cigarettes would be increased by a surtax of 50 cents.
Please keep in mind that, as of this writing, only H.3442 and S.424 have successfully completed their legislative courses, the former signed into law by the Governor, the latter, a resolution, approved by both houses. H.4048 has passed both houses, but is awaiting the Governor’s signature. The others are awaiting action by the House. In fact, H.3584 still has another reading in the Senate, but that should be a mere formality.
Work on the 2010-2011 Budget is just around the corner, as well. By law, that process begins in the House and on March 18, that chamber completed their work. Already, committee work has begun in preparation of debate by the entire Senate. We’ve talked much about the dire budget situation we face. To give some specifics, we’ll be able to allocate $5.068 billion, an almost $322 million reduction over last year’s budget.
As the budget and other legislation proceeds through the General Assembly, you will want to stay informed of their status. Certainly, you are welcome to contact my office whenever you have a question, but for your convenience, the website at the bottom of this page is your official state resource that will allow you to quickly and conveniently research all state legislative information.
Another issue of interest to many of us across South Carolina is a matter of Federal law and regulation, but one about which the General Assembly has had much to say over the past three years. I am referring to the possibility of exploration for natural gas off our coastline.
Just a few days ago, the Minerals Management Service of the US Department of Interior announced that the South Atlantic Region, which includes South Carolina, is still under consideration for their 2012-2017 leasing plan. This is pending seismic exploration and environmental scoping of the region.
In hopes of entering the leasing program, the South Carolina Natural Gas Exploration Feasibility Study Committee was formed. The enabling legislation was one of the first bills that passed the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee after I became chairman. It was also my privilege to serve on this committee which overwhelmingly approved a qualified pursuit of this industry.
More recently, the General Assembly passed S.1192. This bill, which was assigned to my committee, was a resolution asking Congress to offer to South Carolina, in the event of our final acceptance into the next 5-year plan, a revenue sharing agreement that is commensurate with terms that are now available to the Gulf Coast states.
A few months ago, as I reflected upon the close of the 2009 legislative session, I remarked that we left some “stranded runners.” Though there is still some work to be done, we are seeing some hope for a successful session in 2010. The economic crisis is significant, far-reaching and, perhaps, long-term. However, I am hopeful that we will use it as an opportunity to reevaluate our spending priorities, so true necessities, such as care for those with profound disabilities and classroom instruction for our young people can be properly funded.
The possibility of a new, transformative industry, such as natural gas, also gives me great hope. Obviously, the initial and greatest impact will be experienced by the coastal counties. However, make no mistake, the economic impact will spread to our communities, as well. Not to mention, the lease revenue will go into the operation of government throughout our state.
I’ve given you much information, but the net effect of my message is this — stay informed, use all the information resources we have available to us today. Stay engaged with all levels of elected officials — Federal, state, local and school board. Let those you put in office know what you expect of them.
Yours in working for a better South Carolina,
Danny